PEOPLE SKILLS FOR WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY

YOU NEED TO BE A "PEOPLE PERSON"

​Even if you have an excellent artistic eye, can master tricky lighting conditions and obtain a good exposure and can capture stunning images it doesn’t necessarily mean you will make the cut as a wedding photographer. Oh being a successful wedding photographer requires a lot more than just being able to take great photos. In fact, being able to take great photos is just the start.​In my experience the most successful wedding photographers are those who are a “people person”. You know, individuals who like being around people, like talking with people and the type of person who is everyone’s best friend.

Wedding photography is a mixed bag of images, and to be successful you have to be able to capture great photos of places (the wedding location and reception venue), still life subjects (the wedding dress hanging up, the bouquet, table settings etc.) and most importantly people. If you can capture great photos of places and objects but not people you are going to fail miserable in the world of wedding photography. Similarly, if you can capture great photos of people and objects but struggle with places you will not make it in the highly competitive world of wedding photography.

Now then anyone can, with some technical knowhow, the right equipment and a little practice learn how to take great photos of places and objects, but takin great portraits? That is another matter altogether.

In order to take great portraits of people you need to be able to make that person feel comfortable in front of the camera so they behave naturally and not clam up and freeze or go the other way and become extraverted and over the top. If you want to win people over and make them feel comfortable you have to be likable, friendly, happy, sincere and basically be their best friend.

Some people naturally have these traits whereas many people don’t. If you naturally have these traits, fantastic, you have a real opportunity to make it in the world of wedding photography. However, if you don’t have these traits there is no need to despair as you can learn to adapt your behaviour as necessary, although it is not easy.

I am not naturally a people person and, when I was growing up, I was person who moved in a small and tight-knit circle of friends, and all of us found it difficult to branch out and interact with the rest of the world. Don’t get me wrong, we weren’t nasty or rude, and we did speak. It’s just that we kept our distance and didn’t give away too much too soon, a closed book I guess. Despite these natural traits I do shoot weddings and other social events. The point I am trying to make here is that, although it can be tricky, you can learn how to interact with all the different types of people out there in order to make them comfortable in front of the camera if you want it bad enough.

Weddings are full of people of all age groups, from all circles of society and from all backgrounds. The range of guests at a wedding is diverse and you are going to have to be able to deal with, communicate with, interact with and win over all of them. Yep, from the bride’s two year old niece to the groom’s ninety year old gran, and everyone in between, you are going to have to win all of them over, and this is not an easy feat.​When shooting a wedding it is not uncommon to have to hear one family member back stabbing another family member, and if you want to win that person over you have to smile and agree with them, and not provide any answers or opinions as you will also be photographing the person who was backstabbed during the day. As a wedding photographer you will come across family arguments and family politics, and whilst you do have to show some interest (just listen to the moaning and groaning) you also have to let it wash over you whilst doing what you are there to do, and that is to take photos.

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​As a wedding photographer you are going to have to put up with small kids running around, and potentially tripping you up (be aware of this at all times because you don’t want to fall and break your expensive camera right?), older kids trying to “photo bomb”, guests asking ridiculous questions, guests totally ignoring you when they are called to have their photo taken, guests refusing to smile or pose…….. and that is just outside the church or wedding ceremony venue. When it comes to the after party and evening reception you will be faced with all of the above plus drunken behaviour, some of which is quite funny, some of which is annoying and most of which is downright frustrating.

Even though you will encounter some of the above, if not all of the above, you have to maintain that smile, maintain the niceness you demonstrated at the start of the proceedings and carry on as is. Having to deal with people is tiring and as the day goes on you will find yourself getting more and more wound up, but it is crucial not to show it.

Looking at it, wedding photography is a bit of a two faced world and quite a lot of it is dealing with people so you have to be entirely sure you are aware of this, and up to the task before accepting any wedding shoot.​Despite the above wedding photography is great, and the look on the happy couples’ faces whilst they are flicking through the wedding album you shot a few weeks after the event makes it all worthwhile. Oh, that and the fact that wedding photography is very lucrative of course. ​

Further readingIf you found this article useful below are some related articles you may find interesting. Please feel free to take a look and check them out.

Wedding photography lighting tips and tricksFrom dimly lit church and chapel interiors to the bright midday sun to dark reception venues, the wedding photographer has to deal with all sorts of lighting conditions in order to capture those stunning photos.“Wedding photography lighting tips and tricks”focuses on lighting and provides some helpful lighting techniques that will help you capture awesome wedding images.

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